Wednesday, August 3, 2022

19th Sunday of Ordinary Time : The Call

 

I prepared this homily before Br. Juniper died,

Never thinking that he would be gone when I gave it.
But I think it is important that I do.


Икона пророка Самуила из собрания ДОХМ.jpg
9 weeks ago Br. Juniper and I were in the sacristy when he got “The Call. “
It was the doctor telling him that he had 2-4 weeks to live.
It was more like getting The Call from God saying,
I will be there in 2 weeks, maybe 4 if I get delayed.

Now what?
How do we prepare?
How do we get the house; our lives in order?

It is the story of this Gospel come to life.
Blessed are those servants whom the Master finds vigilant on His arrival. Lk. 12:37.

One does not think about God paying us a visit,
Until one gets “The Call. “
Some of you know what I mean,
For you got “The Call. “

The Lord Calls in the morning, at noon or at midnight.
Sometimes He Calls 2 weeks in advance,
Other times He Calls and says “I am here! Standing at the door.”

How can one possibly be prepared for “The Call?”

The Lord comes to us not just on the Last Day but every single day.
In the tears of every face;
In the smile of every face;
In the wrinkles and crows feet and the red rosey cheeks
Of every person we meet.

And if we welcome them,
In their joys and their sadness,
In their laughter and smiles;
In their loses and their loneliness
We are welcoming Christ.

Then no matter when the Lord Calls.
We will be ready because we will have been welcoming Him
in the face of every person we meet everyday.

At first, none of us wants to get “The Call. “
But in reality that is One Call we WANT to get.

It is the Call to the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Call to Eternity.
The Call from the Divine Physician who says,
“Good News!”
There will be no more death or mourning;
No more crying or tears.
No more war or violence or arguing.

Instead of being afraid of getting “The Call.”
We should be afraid of “Missing the Call.”
Because we were so busy with all of the worries and distractions of this passing world,
That we don’t answer “The Call for Eternity. “

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